New U.S. antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing duty (“CVD”) petitions were filed on May 30, 2020, by Vallourec Star, LP against imports of steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from Czechia, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and Ukraine.
The merchandise covered by these petitions is steel standard, line, and pressure pipe. Seamless pressure pipes are intended for the conveyance of water, steam, petrochemicals, chemicals, oil products, natural gas, and other liquids and gasses in industrial piping systems. They may carry these substances at elevated pressures and temperatures and may be subject to the application of external heat. Seamless standard pipes are most commonly produced to the ASTM A-53 specification and generally are not intended for high-temperature service. They are intended for the low temperature and pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air, and other liquids and gasses in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, automatic sprinkler systems, and other related uses. Please see the scope section below for a full review of subject merchandise.
The petitions include AD (less than fair value) allegations against Czechia, Korea, Russia, and Ukraine and CVD (unfair subsidy) allegations against Korea and Russia. The Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the International Trade Commission (“ITC”) will conduct the investigations. Within the next 45 days, the ITC will determine if there is a reasonable indication that the imports are injuring the U.S. industry. If the ITC finds that standard is met, then the cases will move to the DOC which will calculate the preliminary AD and CVD duty margins.
The DOC’s preliminary determinations are currently scheduled for October 1, 2020 (CVD) and December 15, 2020 (AD), which are the dates when importers will be required to deposit the calculated duties upon the products’ entry in the U.S. market.
There are strict statutory deadlines associated with these proceedings and affected companies are advised to prepare as soon as possible. If this product is of interest to you, please let us know so that we can provide you with additional information as it becomes available.
The following are key facts about this trade case:
Petitioners: Vallourec Star, LP
Foreign Producers/Exporters and US Importers: Please contact us for a listing of individual companies named in the petition.
Alleged AD and CVD margins: Petitioners have alleged the following AD and CVD margins:
- Czechia: calculated AD margins ranging from 48.18 to 49.42 percent ad valorem,
- The Republic of Korea: calculated AD margins ranging from 119.07 to 132.16 percent ad valorem and CVD margins above de minimus,
- Russia: calculated AD margins ranging from 30.31 to 246.31 percent ad valorem and CVD margins above de minimus, and
- Ukraine: calculated AD margins ranging from 40.28 to 40.44 percent ad valorem.
Merchandise covered by the scope of the case:
The merchandise covered by the scope of these investigations is seamless carbon and alloy steel (other than stainless steel) pipes and redraw hollows, less than or equal to 16 inches (406.4 mm) in outside diameter, regardless of wall-thickness, manufacturing process (e.g., hot-finished or cold-drawn), end finish (e.g., plain end, beveled end, upset end, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or surface finish (e.g., bare, lacquered or coated). Redraw hollows are any unfinished carbon or alloy steel (other than stainless steel) pipe or “hollow profiles” suitable for cold finishing operations, such as cold drawing, to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) or American Petroleum Institute (“API”) specifications referenced below, or comparable specifications. Specifically included within the scope are seamless carbon and alloy steel (other than stainless steel) standard, line, and pressure pipes produced to the ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM A-334, ASTM A-589, ASTM A-795, ASTM A1024, and the API 5L specifications, or comparable specifications, and meeting the physical parameters described above, regardless of application, except for the exclusions discussed below.
Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigations are: (1) all pipes meeting aerospace, hydraulic, and bearing tubing specifications; (2) all pipes meeting the chemical requirements of ASTM A-335, whether finished or unfinished; and (3) unattached couplings. Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are all mechanical, boiler, condenser and heat exchange tubing, except when such products conform to the dimensional requirements, i.e., outside diameter and wall thickness, of ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106 or API 5L specifications.
Subject seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe are normally entered under HTSUS 7304.19.1020, 7304.19.1030, 7304.19.1045, 7304.19.1060, 7304.19.5020, 7304.19.5050, 7304.31.6050, 7304.39.0016, 7304.39.0020, 7304.39.0024, 7304.39.0028, 7304.39.0032, 7304.39.0036, 7304.39.0040, 7304.39.0044, 7304.39.0048, 7304.39.0052, 7304.39.0056, 7304.39.0062, 7304.39.0068, 7304.39.0072, 7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5060, 7304.59.6000, 7304.59.8010, 7304.59.8015, 7304.59.8020, 7304.59.8025, 7304.59.8030, 7304.59.8035, 7304.59.8040, 7304.59.8045, 7304.59.8050, 7304.59.8055, 7304.59.8060, 7304.59.8065, 7304.59.8070. The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.
